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Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
The next proof we shall seleftof the discrimination of our author ' s obsery 3-tions , is her just opinion of the French character . ' I have remarked ) that the ideas and habits of the French , as may indeed natutally he supposed , partake more of the old than of the new regime . What arc the charms and merits of a republican or democratic government I cannot pretend to say ; but this I clearly perceive , even from the superficial view I have taken of the French lethat they are fihting and labouring
peop , g to establish a system ' that is ill adapted to their present character . ' I shall be told , perhaps , that their character will change ; this , however , must be a work of time . Nations , wlieii they take a particular stamp or impression , lose it but slowly . The features of the French character are strong ; and though I will not say that it is impossible for their present system , if it continue , to obliterate them , I must conceive it to be a more arduous and
tedious task than is generally supposed . England , if I am not mistaken , was nearly twice as long under a republic as France lias been ; but this period was insufficient to wear away her predilection , for monarchy , and' to induce her to prefer presbytcrianism to the ancient forms ofthe established church . ' The present governors of-France refuse to establish reli gion , but they cannot make the people admire the temple of reason . They may discountenance priests , but the people are still fond of going a lamesse . Habit and
prejudice stand out a long time against political and reli gious innovators . It is easier to decree a republic than to suit such a people as the French are to it . ' People in all countries are il . a great measure the creatures of political and religious instit . uions ; and it is highly probable that , should the French republic he able to maintain its ground , the inhabitants of this country will by degrees undergo a great change both in their sentiments and manners . These , however , I observe , are not yet republicanised ; and while so much
ignorance , superstition , and profligacy prevail , I cannot allow the republic to be established . " P . 315 . Malvern Hills : a Poem . By Joseph Cottle . \ to . . is . Cd . sewed . Longman . MR . COTTI . E ' s poem does honour to the sensibility of his heart , and hie numbers flow with majestic elegance . The following description ofthe Wellhas great merit :
' - : the holy well . A plain stone dwelling , weather-worn and rude , Stands singly by . There never sound is heard But the bleak wind , that , howling from above , ¦ Sweeps the bald mountain ' s side , and urging oh Its boisterous ' way , at length forgets its rage , In dallying with the valley ' s scattered trees :
Save when the sky is liush'd , and to the ear The never-ended babblings ofthe spring S-nd- the same note—the same unvarying note . ' P . i < j . His reflections upon the spot , and fall . of departed splendor , are truly poetic , and evince the feelings of benevolence . . ' . Where is now the scowl
Of haughty Independence ? where the views ' That agitated once their glowing breasts With hopes of hi gh afehievement , and inspir'd Their youthful progeny to dare the wars Of Cambria o ' r of France ? awhile they-liy'd
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
The next proof we shall seleftof the discrimination of our author ' s obsery 3-tions , is her just opinion of the French character . ' I have remarked ) that the ideas and habits of the French , as may indeed natutally he supposed , partake more of the old than of the new regime . What arc the charms and merits of a republican or democratic government I cannot pretend to say ; but this I clearly perceive , even from the superficial view I have taken of the French lethat they are fihting and labouring
peop , g to establish a system ' that is ill adapted to their present character . ' I shall be told , perhaps , that their character will change ; this , however , must be a work of time . Nations , wlieii they take a particular stamp or impression , lose it but slowly . The features of the French character are strong ; and though I will not say that it is impossible for their present system , if it continue , to obliterate them , I must conceive it to be a more arduous and
tedious task than is generally supposed . England , if I am not mistaken , was nearly twice as long under a republic as France lias been ; but this period was insufficient to wear away her predilection , for monarchy , and' to induce her to prefer presbytcrianism to the ancient forms ofthe established church . ' The present governors of-France refuse to establish reli gion , but they cannot make the people admire the temple of reason . They may discountenance priests , but the people are still fond of going a lamesse . Habit and
prejudice stand out a long time against political and reli gious innovators . It is easier to decree a republic than to suit such a people as the French are to it . ' People in all countries are il . a great measure the creatures of political and religious instit . uions ; and it is highly probable that , should the French republic he able to maintain its ground , the inhabitants of this country will by degrees undergo a great change both in their sentiments and manners . These , however , I observe , are not yet republicanised ; and while so much
ignorance , superstition , and profligacy prevail , I cannot allow the republic to be established . " P . 315 . Malvern Hills : a Poem . By Joseph Cottle . \ to . . is . Cd . sewed . Longman . MR . COTTI . E ' s poem does honour to the sensibility of his heart , and hie numbers flow with majestic elegance . The following description ofthe Wellhas great merit :
' - : the holy well . A plain stone dwelling , weather-worn and rude , Stands singly by . There never sound is heard But the bleak wind , that , howling from above , ¦ Sweeps the bald mountain ' s side , and urging oh Its boisterous ' way , at length forgets its rage , In dallying with the valley ' s scattered trees :
Save when the sky is liush'd , and to the ear The never-ended babblings ofthe spring S-nd- the same note—the same unvarying note . ' P . i < j . His reflections upon the spot , and fall . of departed splendor , are truly poetic , and evince the feelings of benevolence . . ' . Where is now the scowl
Of haughty Independence ? where the views ' That agitated once their glowing breasts With hopes of hi gh afehievement , and inspir'd Their youthful progeny to dare the wars Of Cambria o ' r of France ? awhile they-liy'd